USA takes two against Central VA All Stars

LYNCHBURG, Va. - In their first competition of the 2014 USA Softball Women's National Team (WNT) Selection Camp, the Red, White and Blue swept their doubleheader exhibition matchup in Lynchburg, Va. against the Central Virginia All-Stars the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball announced. The WNT used an explosive five-run first inning to capture Game 1 by a score of 10-2 and followed up with a shutout 6-0 win in Game 2.

Raven Chavanne (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) led the Women’s National Team in Game 1, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Hallie Wilson (Tustin, Calif.) was 2-for-3 in Game 2 with one RBI.

Team USA shut the door early on Central Virginia All-Stars, capturing a 10-2 victory in Game 1 of the doubleheader. Scoring nine runs in the first three innings, Team USA's offense quickly pounced on the Central Va All-Star pitching staff.

The Central Va. All-Stars got on the board first after Megan Baltzell singled and was moved to third on an error by the defense. A single to center by Brooke Blankenship plated two before a ground out ended the inning with Team USA down by two.

Chavanne started the U.S. offense in the bottom of the first with a single and Lauren Gibson (Pasadena, Md.) followed with a hit-by-pitch to put runners on first and second. A walk to Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) loaded the bases for Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif.), who cleared the bases with a grand slam.

USA continued to plate runners in the bottom of the second as Amanda Chidester (Allen Park, Mich.) punched a two-run single and was followed by a sac-fly by Freeman. The third inning saw another U.S. runner cross the plate as Haylie McCleney (Morris, Ala.) scored on a single by Chavanne. The Red, White and Blue would score their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Nicole Hudson (Webb City, Mo.) doubled to score Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif.). Freeman finished the night 2-for-1 while racking up five RBIs.

From the circle, Lacey Waldrop (Chester, Va.) started the game and earned the win, allowing two runs over two innings with two strikeouts. Jaclyn Traina (Naples, Fla.) pitched the next two frames, keeping the Central Va. All-Stars hitless with four strikeouts.

Next in the circle was Cheridan Hawkins (Anderson, Calif.) who struck out five while allowing one hit in her two innings on the mound. Sara Nevins (Pineallas Park, Fla.) closed out the game, striking out two.

Game Two

The Team USA pitching staff was lights out in Game 2 of the doubleheader as WNT claimed a 6-0 win. Allowing just one hit, the staff combined for 11 strikeouts to stifle the Central Va. All-Star offense.

It was a slow start for the U.S. as the Central Va. All-Star pitching staff held the WNT scoreless until the top of the third inning. Rhea Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.) started the inning with an infield single and followed up with a stolen base to put a runner in scoring position for Hallie Wilson. A single by Wilson plated Taylor to put the U.S. up 1-0.

Team USA extended their lead in a four-run fourth inning as Sam Fischer (Simi Valley, Calif.) led off with a single and was followed by a walk and hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Martinez singled to bring a runner in before a passed ball plated McCleney, a fielder's choice plated Martinez and an RBI single by Kelsey Stewart (Wichita, Kan.) to put the U.S. up 5-0. Hudson would plate the final run of the game with a sac-fly.

Wilson led Team USA at the plate, getting on base three times with two singles, a walk and an RBI.

From the circle, Nevins got the start and earned the win, finishing the game with two strikeouts in one inning pitched. Jolene Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif.) pitched the next two frames, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

Aimee Creger (Yukon, Okla.) was the next U.S. pitcher in the circle and gave up one walk while striking out four in two innings. Jessica Moore (Sutter, Calif.) closed out the final two frames, striking out two.

Up next for the Red, White and Blue is a doubleheader exhibition game against the Ohio All-Stars on Tuesday, June 17 in Findlay, Ohio. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 6 p.m. ET and live stats can be found at USASoftball.com.

About ASA

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation’s largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 76 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. For more information on the ASA, visit http://www.asasoftball.com/.

About USA Softball
USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of the only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles including the last seven consecutive as well as claimed six World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visithttp://www.usasoftball.com.